Serbia’s Muslim community in turmoil

Serbia’s Muslim community in turmoil

The simmering conflict within this religious community deepened in February after members of the Belgrade-based Muslim community decided to form their own institution and select Belgrade mufti Hamdija Jusufspahić as their leader, formally separating from the Sarajevo center.

Followers of the Sandžak mufti Muamer Zukorlić rejected this decision, and continued to consider Sarajevo as the only place where a reis ul-ulema and riyaset with jurisdiction over Serbian Muslims could exist.

Speaking after the gathering yesterday, Zukorlić said the Islamic community in Serbia would operate “without strict hierarchy, reflecting its the multiethnic composition, consistent with the Sunni teachings and the challenges of the 21st century.”

The assembly was attended by several hundred guests from the country and abroad. Representatives of all Bosniak and Albanian parties in Serbia as well as all Muslim members of parliament were also invited.

However, deputy to the Belgrade mufti Jusufspahić Abdulah Numan said they saw the Novi Pazar assembly as “colonizing”, with the goal of gathering all Muslims who live in Serbia under the power of the town’s meshihat.

Preševo, Bujanovac and Medveđa Mufti Dzemaledin Hasani also decided against attending the gathering.

“We Albanians can only nurture correct religious relations with the Islamic community in Novi Pazar, as our language, culture, tradition and customs divide us,” Hasani told a press conference in Vranje Monday.

Cerić: Fend off “wolves” with solidarity

However, head of the Bosnian Islamic community Mustafa Cerić was present at the gathering. He dubbed the event “a historic day, setting the foundation for preserving Islam in the Balkans and in Europe.”

“The address of the Islamic community in Serbia is in Novi Pazar, and those who fail to believe in that run the risk and the responsibility to die as non-Muslims,” Cerić said.

“The condition for Muslims’ survival in Europe is solidarity. If we don’t stick together, we will be devoured by wolves,” the Bosnian Muslims’ spiritual leader said.

Addressing over 1,000 members of the Islamic community, Cerić said he was “impressed with the progress made.”

“Before, the migration was from Novi Pazar to Sarajevo. Now, it will be from Sarajevo to Novi Pazar and we have mufti Muamer Zukorlić to thank for that,” Cerić concluded.